Math 4107, Abstract Algebra, Fall 2009

Homework 1 (due September 8)

Page 8-9, #4,8,11.

Page 16-17, #1,3,9.

Page 23-24, #1,4,6,7.

page 35-36, #1,2,6,11,14,21.

*** Note that due to the President's address on Thursday (Sept 3),
I have delayed the due date to Tues, Sept. 8. ***

Homework 2 (due September 17).

Page 46-49, #2,3,4,5,6,12,13,15,19,38.

Page 53, #1,2,4,7,12.

Homework 3 (due Tuesday, September 29).

Page 64-65, #1,3,6,8,10.

*** Your first exam has been scheduled for Thursday,
Sept. 24. ***

You might find this amusing: it seems that there is a
Wikipedia article precisely defining what is meant by ``abstract nonsense'',
and which can be found by going here .

If you want to see what mathematicians do with their time when
they aren't teaching -- i.e. what math research is like -- you might
appreciate seeing the ``
Polymath4 project'', in which I am a contributor. Click on the
``research threads'' to see what your abstract algebra professor has been
up to lately...

*** Your second midterm will be Thursday, Nov. 12 ***

Click here for an interesting video about symmetry
(and group theory).

I decided to write a short note on ``advice to undergrad math
majors'', inteded for those who plan to apply to grad school. If you
are interested, click here . I made
some corrections and updates to the file.

I have started writing up a study sheet for the midterm.
Click here to see what I have written
so far.

Here is an interesting link about the ``Russian
Math Counterculture''.

Homework 7 (turn it in with your final exam).

Page 130, #1,3,7,12.

Page 135, #1,3.

Page 139-140, #1, 3.

Page 142-143, #1,6.

Page 149, #1,2,3,5.

*** I will not be holding office hours tomorrow, Wednesday
at the usual time of 3:00-4:00. Instead, I will hold them from 4:30-5:30.
Apologies for not mentioning this in class (I forgot). ***